Work rest support assembly

ABSTRACT

A stand-alone support assembly for supporting at least one pass-through  w rest in independent relation to a machine tool includes a base member, a slide base, a horizontal slide block and a vertical slide block which are mutually cooperable to facilitate positioning of a pass-through work rest in three mutually perpendicular planes so as to enable exact positioning of the work rest relative to a workpiece supported by the machine tool.

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed byor for the Government for Governmental purposes without the payment tome of any royalties thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to work rest supports, and moreparticularly to a novel work rest support assembly which findsparticular application in supporting a pass-through work rest relativeto a machine tool or the like in independent stand-alone relation so asto facilitate selective positioning of the pass-through work rest inthree mutually perpendicular planes.

It is a common practice in the manufacture of long heavy cylindricalworkpieces, such as large caliber gun barrels or tubes, to support theelongated workpieces proximate their longitudinal centers duringmachining, in addition to supporting their opposite ends by means ofchucks or headstocks and tailstocks of the associated machine tools. Forexample, in lathe turning and machining of long heavy gun barrels ortubes, the advantage of supporting the barrel or tube generallycentrally of its longitudinal length so as to reduce sagging is readilyapparent. One technique for supporting the longitudinal center of a longheavy workpiece such as a gun tube is to employ a pass-through work restwhich is positioned to provide the desired mid-length support and whichallows continuous cutting or machining of the outer periphery of theworkpiece by permitting a cutting tool to pass through the areasupported by the work rest without interrupting the turning cycle of theassociated machine tool.

Pass-through work rests of the aforementioned type are commerciallyavailable. In general, however, the known pass-through work rests areattached to associated machine tools so as to become a permanent part ofthe machine tool. When fixedly secured to or formed integral with amachine tool, the pass-through work rest, while generally havingcomponents adjustable to accommodate different diameter workpieces, isfixed in predetermined relation to the centerline between the headstockand tailstock of the particular machine tool and has no need forportability to accommodate different size machine tools having differentfloor-to-workpiece centerline dimensions.

While pass-through work rests of the aforementioned type which areattached to and form a permanent part of a specific machine tool havebeen found satisfactory for their intended purposes, their inability tobe transferred for use with different size machine tools limits theiruse to the specific machine tool to which they are attached and,accordingly, adds to the cost of the associated machine tool. A needthus exists for an outboard or off machine pass-through work restsupport arrangement which, while not integral with or otherwise apermanent part of an associated machine tool, enables exact positioningof an associated pass-through work rest relative to the working axis ofthe machine tool with which the work rest is to be employed. Such astand-alone work rest support arrangement or assembly finds particularapplication with machine tools, such as lathes, of different floor toworkpiece centerline heights, thus being particularly adapted for use inturning operations which require a supporting work rest intermediate thelength of a heavy elongated workpiece such as a gun barrel or tube toprevent sagging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide anovel work rest support assembly which finds particular application insupporting a pass-through work rest in independent, stand-alone relationto a machine tool or the like and which facilitates selectivepositioning of a pass-through work rest in three mutually perpendicularplanes.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a novelwork rest support assembly as aforementioned which facilitates use withmachine tools, such as lathes, having different floor-to-workpiececenterline heights or dimensions, and which is independent of themachine tool while facilitating exact positioning of a pass-through workrest in three mutually perpendicular planes relative to the workpiececenterline of the associated machine tool.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novelpass-through work rest support assembly having a base member adapted torest on a support surface, such as a floor or the like, a slide basesupported by the base member, a horizontal slide block supported by theslide base and a vertical slide block supported by the horizontal slideblock, the base member, slide base, horizontal slide block and verticalslide block having mutually cooperable reference surfaces and associatedadjustment means cooperative to facilitate positioning of a pass-throughwork rest mounted on the vertical slide block in three mutuallyperpendicular planes so as to enable exact positioning relative to aworkpiece centerline axis defined by a machine tool or the like.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention, together withthe organization and manner of operation thereof, will become apparentfrom the following description of the invention when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencenumerals designate like elements throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a foreshortened front elevational view of a machine toolhaving a workpiece supported thereby in operative association with apass-through work rest support assembly constructed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along line 2--2of FIG. 1, with portions of the machine tool removed for purposes ofillustration;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the work rest support assembly shown in FIGS. 1and 2, but with the work rests removed and portions broken away forpurposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the work rest support assemblyshown in FIG. 2 but with the pass-through work rests removed andportions broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the work rest support assemblyshown in FIG. 4, portions being broken away for purposes ofillustration; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the work rest support assemblyshown in FIG. 4 but on an enlarged scale and with various componentsspaced from each other for purposes of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, a stand-alone work rest support assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention is indicatedgenerally at 10 in the various views. The work rest support assembly 10is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in operative association with a machine toolwhich, in the illustrated embodiment, takes the form of a lathe,indicated generally at 12. As will become apparent, the work restsupport assembly 10 may be employed with various types of machine toolsof different sizes where support of a heavy elongated workpiece isdesirable to prevent sagging and thereby ensure close machiningtolerances throughout the length of the workpiece.

The lathe 12 comprises a conventional engine lathe having substantiallyhorizontal ways 14 which extend between a rotatable headstock or drivechuck 16 and a tailstock 18. A carriage 20 is adapted to be selectivelymoved along the length of the ways 14 between the headstock andtailstock and is adapted to support a tool (not shown), such as acutting tool, in adjustable relation to an elongated workpiece 22supported by and between the headstock or chuck 16 and the tailstock 18.The workpiece 22 may comprise an elongated heavy generally cylindricalworkpiece, such as a relatively large caliber gun barrel, frequentlytermed a tube, which is supported by the machine tool so as tofacilitate selective machining of the outer peripheral surface of theworkpiece upon selective movement of the carriage 20 and associatedcutting tool along the longitudinal length of the workpiece.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention,the stand-alone work rest support assembly 10 is adapted to support twosubstantially identical pass-through work rests, each of which isindicated generally at 28, so as to position the work rests in tandemrelation proximate the longitudinal center of the workpiece 22 such thatthe work rests support the workpiece and prevent sagging thereof whilefacilitating continuous cutting or machining of the outer periphery ofthe workpiece by the cutting tool as the carriage 20 is caused totraverse the ways 14. The work rest support assembly 10 is independentof the machine tool 12 and thereby permits outboard or off-machinesupporting of the pass-through work rests 28 while facilitatingpositioning of the work rests in three mutually perpendicular planes soas to provide exact alignment or predetermined positioning of the workrests relative to the rotational axis or centerline about which theworkpiece rotates which coincides with the centerline extending betweenthe headstock and tailstock of the machine tool.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, taken in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, thesupport assembly 10 includes a base member 30 on which a slide base 32is supported for movement relative to the base member. The slide base 32supports a horizontal slide block 34 which, in turn, supports a verticalslide block 36 on which the two pass-through work rests 28 are mountedin tandem relation. As will become more apparent hereinbelow, the basemember 30, slide base 32, horizontal slide block 34 and vertical slideblock 36 have mutually cooperable reference surfaces and associatedadjustment means which facilitate positioning of the work rests 28 inthree mutually perpendicular planes so as to enable exact positioningthereof relative to the centerline of the workpiece 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base member 30 includes threesubstantially identical pedestals 40a, 40b, and 40c which areinterconnected in fixed upstanding relation by suitable connectorchannels, two of which are indicated at 42a and 42b. The upstandingpedestals 40a-c have coplanar bottom surfaces which collectively definea first reference surface and are adapted to rest on a support surfacesuch as a floor or platform, illustrated at 44 in FIG. 2, such that thepedestals may be releasably affixed to the support surface as throughscrews, two of which are indicated at 46. An elongated generallyrectangular platen 48 is fixed to and supported by the upper ends of thepedestals 40a-c and defines an upwardly exposed substantially horizontalreference surface 48a, termed a second reference surface, which isparallel to the plane of the first reference surface. Threelongitudinally extending parallel spaced inverted T-shaped guidechannels 50a-c are formed in the surface 48a of the platen so as toextend the full longitudinal length of the platen.

The slide base 32, which alternatively may be termed a slide basefixture, includes a generally rectangular metallic block 54 having asubstantially planar lower reference surface 54a, termed the thirdreference surface of the support assembly 10, adapted for slidingengagement with the reference surface 48a on the platen 48 so as tofacilitate sliding movement therealong. To facilitate predeterminedguided movement of the slide base 32 longitudinally of the platen 48,the block member 54 has transverse ends 54b and 54c in which are formedopen-ended slots 56a-f such that each pair of aligned oppositelydirected slots overlies one of the parallel guide channels 50a-c formedin the platen 48. Suitable headed guides or tie-down screws, such asindicated at 60 in FIG. 6, have their head ends sized to be receivedwithin the guide channels 50a-c in sliding relation therein and haveupper threaded ends extending upwardly within the slots 56a-f in theslide base to receive suitable hold-down nuts 62 thereon. In thismanner, the slide base 32 may be selectively positioned along thelongitudinal length of the platen 48 while being maintained inpredetermined alignment on the platen by the guide screws 60 whichcomprise guide means mutually cooperable with the base member 30 andslide base so as to facilitate predetermined sliding movement of theslide base relative to the base member.

The slide base block 54 has a second planar reference surface 54d formedthereon which is parallel to the reference surface 54a and defines afourth reference surface of the support assembly 10. Reference surface54d is bounded on its transverse marginal edges by inverted L-shapedguide members 64a and 64b which are suitably affixed to the slide baseblock so as to cooperate with surface 54a to define opposed guidechannels. The guide channels defined by the guide members 64a, bcooperate with the reference surface 54d to establish a rectilinearguide path on the reference surface 54d transverse to the majorlongitudinal axis of the slide base block 54, and thereby transverse tothe guide channels 50a-c formed in the platen 48. A screw block 66 isaffixed in upstanding relation to the slide base block 54 and has athreaded bore 66a (FIG. 6) therethrough adapted for threaded cooperationwith the threaded shank 68a of an adjusting screw member 68 whichprovides first adjustment means for selectively adjusting the positionof the horizontal slide block 34 relative to the slide base 32, as willbecome more apparent hereinbelow.

The reference surface 54d on the slide base 32 serves as a horizontalreference surface to slidingly receive coplanar reference surfaces 72aand 72b formed on the horizontal slide block 34, as illustrated in FIG.5. The reference surfaces 72a,b collectively define a fifth referencesurface of the support assembly 10 and are contiguous, respectively, tolaterally outwardly extending flanges 74a and 74b which are formed onthe horizontal slide block 34 and are received within the opposed guidechannels defined by the guide members 64a,b. In this manner, slidingmovement of the horizontal slide block relative to the slide base 32 maybe effected along the rectilinear guide path defined by guide members64a,b. To effect selective movement of the horizontal slide block 34along reference surface 54d in a direction transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the platen 48, the horizontal slide block issuitably connected to an inner end of the adjusting screw 68 such thatrotation of the adjusting screw operates to move the horizontal slideblock 34 relative to the slide base 32. To facilitate locking of thehorizontal slide block 34 to the slide base 32 after selectiveadjustment therebetween, the horizontal slide block is provided with aplurality of parallel elongated through-slots 76a, 76b, and 76c (FIG. 3)which receive upstanding studs or threaded posts 78 on which arethreadedly secured nuts 78. After selective adjustment of the horizontalslide block, the nuts 78 may be tightened against the horizontal slideblock to releasably retain it in adjusted position.

The horizontal slide block 34 has a second reference surface defined bycoplanar surfaces 86a and 86b (FIG. 3) which lie in a planeperpendicular to the plane of the reference surfaces 72a and 72b. Thereference surfaces 86a and 86b, which collectively define a sixthreference surface of the support assembly 10, cooperate with verticalguide members 88a and 88b, respectively, which are fixed to thehorizontal slide block so as to define a guide channel which slidinglyreceives the vertical slide block 36. To this end, the vertical slideblock 36 defines a planar reference surface 92, termed the seventhreference surface of the support assembly 10, adapted to engage thecoplanar reference surfaces 86a,b in sliding relation therewith suchthat laterally opposite edges 94a and 94b of the vertical slide blockare received within the aforementioned guide channel defined between theguide members 86a,b. In this manner, sliding movement of the verticalslide block relative to the horizontal slide block may be effected alonga rectilinear guide path defined by the guide members 86a,b.

In the illustrated embodiment, second adjustment means in the form of anadjusting screw 98 is operatively associated with the horizontal andvertical slide blocks in a manner to enable selective movement of thevertical slide block relative to the horizontal slide block. To thisend, the screw 98 has a threaded shank 98a received through a threadedbore in a support block 100 fixed on the horizontal slide block 34 suchthat the adjusting screw lies parallel to the guide surfaces 86a,b. Thelower end of the adjusting screw 98 is suitably connected to thevertical slide block 36 such that selective rotation of the adjustingscrew effects movement of the vertical slide block along the guidesurfaces 86a,b. Preferably, the vertical slide block 36 has a pair ofparallel elongated through-slots, indicated at 102a and 102b in FIG. 5,adapted to receive threaded stub shafts 104a and 104b, respectively,therethrough, the stub shafts being fixed in normal relation to thereference surfaces 86a and 86b and having nuts 106 received thereonwhich may be tightened after positioning the vertical slide blockrelative so as to releasably lock it to the horizontal slide block.

Referring to FIG. 6, the vertical slide block 36 has a downwardly cantedweb portion 108 having an enlarged work rest support block portion 110formed integral thereon such that an outer exposed planar surface 110aforms an included angle of approximately 15° with the plane of thereference surface 92. The support block portion 110 of the verticalslide block has opposite outwardly facing parallel surfaces 110b and110c each of which has a pair of parallel T-shaped guide channels orgrooves formed therein, such as indicated at 112a and 112b in FIG. 6.The guide channel slots 112a,b intersect the end surface 110a inperpendicular relation thereto, and open outwardly of the opposite sidesurfaces of the support block and are adapted to receive headed mountingscrews 114 to facilitate mounting of the aforementioned pass-throughwork rests 28 in tandem relation on the vertical slide block 36 asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The pass-through work rests 28 may be of conventional design and, in theillustrated embodiment, include support arms 28a, 28b and 28c havingrollers supported on their outermost ends for line contact with theperipheral surface of a workpiece. The arms 28a, 28b and 28c on each ofthe pass-through work rests are actuable through an associated pressurecylinder 118 so as to effect opening and closing of the arms 28a and 28bto accommodate different diameter workpieces. Pass-through work rests ofother designs may also be employed with the work rest support assembly10.

In operation, the work rest support assembly 10 is positioned on asuitable support surface, such as a floor surface or the platform 44, sothat the work rests 28 are positioned relatively close to and generallycentrally along the length of the elongated heavy workpiece 22 supportedby the associated machine tool, such as the lathe 12. The pedestals40a,b and c of the base member 30 are preferably releasably affixed tothe support surface or platform, as through the mounting screws 46, suchthat surface 48a is substantially horizontal and the guide channels50a-c in the platen 48 are generally parallel to the longitudinalcenterline of the workpiece 22. With the slide base 32, horizontal slideblock 34 and vertical slide block 36 being assembled to each other andto the platen 48 as aforedescribed, the slide base 32 may be selectivelyadjusted along the length of the platen reference surface 48 andtightened thereagainst through the guide screws 60 as aforedescribed.Thereafter, the horizontal slide block 34 and vertical slide block 36may be adjusted to a desired location relative to the workpiece throughthe adjusting screws 68 and 98 to facilitate selective exactingadjustment of the pass-through work rests 28 in two mutuallyperpendicular planes relative to the workpiece centerline. When takenwith the prior adjustment of the slide base 32 relative to the basemember 30, it will be appreciated that adjustment of the pass-throughwork rests in three mutually perpendicular planes has been facilitatedby the support assembly 10 such that the pass-through work rests may bebrought to exact positions relative to the longitudinal axis of theworkpiece, whereafter the arms 28a-c are actuated into supportingrelation with the workpiece to prevent sagging thereof during turning orother machining of the workpiece.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be understood that changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the inventionin its broader aspects. Various features of the invention are defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand-alone work rest support assembly forenabling positioning of a work rest relative to a workpiece support axisof a machine tool or the like, said support assembly comprising, incombination:a base member defining a first reference surface adapted toengage a floor support surface or the like, and defining a secondreference surface substantially parallel to said first base referencesurface; a slide base defining a third reference surface adapted forsliding relation with said second reference surface, said slide basedefining a fourth reference surface and including means establishing afirst rectilinear guide path on said fourth reference surface; guidemeans mutually cooperable with said base member and said slide base soas to facilitate predetermined sliding movement of said slide baserelative to said base member; a horizontal slide block supported by saidslide base and defining a fifth reference surface adapted for slidingrelation with said fourth reference surface along said first guide path,said horizontal slide block defining a sixth reference surface lying ina plane substantially perpendicular to said fifth reference surface andincluding means establishing a second rectilinear guide path on saidsixth reference surface; first adjustment means operatively associatedwith said slide base and said horizontal slide block in a manner toenable selective movement of said horizontal slide block along saidfirst guide path relative to said slide base; a vertical slide blockdefining a seventh reference surface adapted for sliding relation withsaid sixth reference surface in guided relation along said second guidepath; and second adjustment means operatively associated with saidhorizontal and vertical slide blocks and selectively operable to effectmovement of said vertical slide block relative to said horizontal slideblock along said second guide path, said vertical slide block beingadapted to support at least one pass-through work rest such thatselective positioning of said base member, slide base, and horizontaland vertical slide blocks relative to each other is operative toselectively position said work rest in three mutually perpendicularplanes.
 2. A work rest support assembly as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid base member includes a plurality of guide channels formed in saidsecond reference surface, said guide means including a plurality ofguide elements adapted to be received in guided relation within saidguide channels and adapted for operatively connection to said slidebase.
 3. A work rest support assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein saidguide channels have substantially inverted T-shaped transversecross-sectional configurations, said guide elements having headedportions slideable within said guide channels and adapted for connectionto said slide base in a manner to facilitate guided movement of saidslide base relative to said base member.
 4. A work rest support assemblyas defined in claim 4 wherein said guide elements are adapted to enablereleasable locking of said slide base to said base member.
 5. A workrest support assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first andsecond adjustment means comprise first and second adjustment screws,said first adjusting screw having operative association with said slidebase and said horizontal slide block, said second adjusting screw havingoperative association with said horizontal slide block and said verticalslide block, said adjustment screws being selectively rotatable,respectively, to effect movement of said horizontal slide block relativeto said slide base member, and movement of said vertical slide blockrelative to said horizontal slide block.
 6. A work rest support assemblyas defined in claim 1 wherein said vertical slide block defines amounting block adapted to have a pair of work rests mounted thereon intandem relation.
 7. A work rest support assembly as defined in claim 6wherein said mounting block defines a plurality of parallel generallyT-shaped channels facilitating mounting of said work rests thereonthrough mounting members having headed ends adapted to be receivedwithin said mounting channels.
 8. A work rest support assembly asdefined in claim 1 including means cooperative with said slide block andsaid horizontal slide block in a manner to enable releasable locking ofsaid horizontal slide block in fixed relation to said slide base.
 9. Awork rest support assembly as defined in claim 8 including meanscooperative with horizontal slide block and said vertical slide block ina manner to enable releasable locking of said vertical slide block infixed relation to said horizontal slide block.
 10. A stand-alone workrest support assembly for enabling positioning of a work rest relativeto a workpiece support axis of a machine tool or the like, said supportassembly comprising, in combination:a base member defining a firstreference surface adapted to engage a floor support surface, anddefining a second horizontal reference surface; a slide base defining athird reference surface adapted for sliding relation with said secondreference surface, said slide base defining a fourth reference surfaceparallel to said fourth reference surface and establishing a first guidepath thereon; guide means mutually cooperable with said base member andsaid slide base so as to facilitate predetermined sliding movement ofsaid slide base along said second reference surface relative to saidbase member; a horizontal slide block supported by said slide base anddefining a fifth reference surface adapted for sliding relation withsaid fourth reference surface along said first guide path, saidhorizontal slide block defining a sixth reference surface lying in aplane substantially perpendicular to said fifth reference surface andestablishing a second guide path thereon; first adjustment meansoperatively associated with said slide base and said horizontal slideblock in a manner to enable selective movement of said horizontal slideblock along said first guide path relative to said slide base; avertical slide block defining a seventh reference surface adapted forsliding relation with said sixth reference surface in guided relationalong said second guide path; and second adjustment means operativelyassociated with said horizontal and vertical slide blocks andselectively operable to effect movement of said vertical slide blockrelative to said horizontal slide block along said second guide path,said vertical slide block being adapted to support at least onepass-through work rest such that selective positioning of said basemember, slide base, and horizontal and vertical slide blocks relative toeach other is operative to selectively position said work rest in threemutually perpendicular planes.
 11. A stand-alone support assembly forsupporting at least one pass-through work rest in independent relationto a machine tool, said support assembly comprising, in combination, abase member, a slide base, a horizontal slide block, a vertical slideblock, and a pass-through work rest supported by said vertical slideblock, said base member, slide base horizontal and vertical slide blocksbeing mutually cooperable to facilitate positioning of the pass-throughwork rest in three mutually perpendicular planes so as to enable exactpositioning of the work rest relative to a workpiece support axisdefined by the machine tool.